The hosts opened the scoring after only 13 seconds through Jesus Navas, with a Sandro own goal and Sergio Aguero’s close-range strike leaving them comfortably ahead at the break.

A second from Aguero was followed by Alvaro Negredo's fifth in the league this season, before another Navas goal in injury-time heaped further humiliation on Tottenham.

The win moves City into fourth place in the table - ahead of Southampton on goal difference - while Tottenham drop two places to ninth.

VIEW FROM THE ETIHAD

By Greg Stobart at the Etihad Stadium

"This was an afternoon as sensational for Manchester City as it was woeful for Tottenham. It took just 14 seconds for Jesus Navas to open the scoring with a goal that set the tone for the rest of the match. City attacked with creativity, speed and purpose and in Sergio Aguero they have the in-form striker in the Premier League.

"The Argentinian scored two expertly taken goals here to take his league tally for the season to 10 - but it came with a helping hand from the Spurs defence. The visitors were shambolic at the back, with individual errors compounded by a complete lack of organisation as they failed to handle City’s attacking movement. This was as bad as Tottenham have played in the last two or three years and, despite their huge summer spending, there are massive weaknesses in the squad."

Andre Villas-Boas' side were barely able to test Costel Pantilimon in the City goal as a lacklustre performance added to the disappointment of their thumping defeat.

City made five changes to the side beaten by Sunderland before the international break, with Navas starting in the league for the first time since the Manchester derby in September.

Erik Lamela - one of six changes for Tottenham - was handed his first Premier League start for the visitors, with Hugo Lloris also returning to the starting line-up.

But the France international did not enjoy a good start to the game as City posted the joint-quickest goal of the Premier League campaign.

A poor clearance from Lloris went straight to Aguero 20 yards from goal and, although his shot was saved, the loose ball was met by Navas, who lofted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

Lamela then nearly levelled as Spurs slowly began to settle into the game - but they were unable to turn their possession into goals and were caught out again in the 34th minute.

Fernandinho capitalised on another clearance from Lloris to release Samir Nasri on the left, before he in turn lifted the ball to Aguero.

The Argentinian’s effort was pushed away by Lloris but the ball dropped to Negredo, whose acrobatic follow-up found the net via deflections off Younes Kaboul and Sandro.

City extended their lead four minutes before the break as Navas fired a low cross into the six-yard box and Aguero slotted home from six yards.

And five minutes into the second half, Aguero doubled his tally with his 14th goal in 11 matches. Yaya Toure was the creator, powerfully brushing his way past Kyle Walker before rolling the ball square and leaving the Argentine the simple task of converting.

Negredo then made it five after an outrageous piece of skill saw him beat Michael Dawson on the edge of the penalty area.

The Spaniard flicked the ball through the defender's legs following a pass from Fernandinho and emphatically fired past Lloris.

Tottenham were unable to muster a reply and conceded a sixth in stoppage time when a raking long ball from substitute James Milner provided Navas with a one-on-one he coolly converted.